Injury crisis puts veteran in the frame

By CHRIS RATTUE

WAIKATO 33 BAY OF PLENTY 21

Steve Gordon, one of the great Waikato rugby warhorses, could make a shock return for their NPC semifinal against Otago in Hamilton on Saturday night.

Waikato, under the new coaching team of Ian Foster and Farrell Temata, have finished on top of the first division, but are injury-hit going into the playoffs.

Lock Royce Willis has been ruled out and halfback Rhys Duggan is extremely doubtful.

It is five years since Gordon, a two-cap All Black who turned 35 in May, played for Waikato in the first division. And it's nearly 10 years since the last of his 19 matches for the All Blacks.

If he did make a return, Gordon would be the sole survivor from the 1992 Waikato team, the only one from the province to have won the NPC first division.

Waikato are apparently considering recalling the veteran, who has been playing for the B team, as they seek some experience to overcome an injury crisis at lock.

Willis is out of the playoffs after tearing a calf muscle in the harder-than-expected win over Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on Saturday.

Foster said: "It won't require an operation, but I've had a doctor who ripped a calf muscle this year and a physio who ripped a calf muscle, and they both were out for three weeks. They tell me Royce's injury is worse than theirs."

The win over Bay of Plenty gave Waikato a top-of-the table finish for the third time since they were promoted to the first division for the 1981 season.

It is the second time they have dropped only one game - this year's defeat coming in Dunedin from their semifinal opponents.

But the injuries to Willis and Duggan put a dampener on those achievements.

Duggan strained knee ligaments on Saturday. He was trying to remain optimistic, but was very sore yesterday and the medical staff doubt he will be fit.

The injuries have struck Waikato in the two places that they are most vulnerable. Their other frontline halfback, Isaac Boss, the former national under-19 representative, broke his jaw during the brilliant win over Canterbury in the fourth round.

With Duggan doubtful, rookie Duncan Jamieson is poised for a dramatic start against Otago.

Jamieson, who came through the Waikato grade teams, started the season in the B team.

At lock, Mark Cooksley was ruled out before the season started and Waikato then lost Chresten Davis (broken leg, dislocated ankle) and utility second-rower Jono Gibbes (knee ligaments).

When Willis departed on Saturday, the lanky Sean Hohneck appeared for just his fourth NPC game. All have been as a substitute.

This was supposed to be a learning year for Hohneck, and Willis' injury has thrown Gordon, who played more than 140 games for Waikato, into the spotlight.

After living in Northland, Gordon returned to play and coach at the Taupiri club and has played for Waikato B in their last three games.

Foster was yesterday still mulling over the options for handling the injury problems.

"The injuries are disappointing, coming at the end of the season like this," he said.

"But we've put faith in our whole squad from day one. We've had a number of serious injuries, and the guys coming in have fronted up."

Foster said he was extremely proud of the side for the results they had achieved, the environment they had created, and the style in which they had played.

"We've missed out in the last few years and it is very exciting to be back in this sort of position.

"But it's back to zero points now. Four teams all start equal."

Waikato already knew they had a home semifinal and may have struggled to concentrate on their task against Bay of Plenty.

The home side put up a magnificent struggle as they sought bonus points they richly deserved on this performance.

Had Jason Tiatia collected a relatively simple cross-field kick in the dying stages of the game, Bay of Plenty would have gained two bonus points. Instead, they finished with none.